Northwest Passage

The Wet Coast Irregulars unveil a new Motorcycle Endurance rally for the Great Northwest

The Wet Coast Irregulars (a Seattle-based motorcycle club) today revealed the inaugural opening of their 3-day Motorcycle Endurance Rally named "The Northwest Passage Rally". This rally will start at the Everett Holiday Inn (101 128th St SE) on August 3rd, 2000 at 10:00am. The riders, with bonus packets in hand, must make their way up to Anderwerks Motorsports in Calgary, Alberta Canada by noon August 4th, 2000. Then, after picking up another rally packet (listing bonus locations), they must make their way to Big Twin Cycle Center in Boise, Idaho no later than 1pm on August 5th, 2000. Finally, the riders (after being issued new bonus locations) must wind their way back to Everett Motorsports by 4pm on August 6th, 2000.

If you are not familiar with long distance endurance motorcycling, you can check out the Iron Butt Association's web pages located at www.ironbutt.com . This sport is a long distance scavenger hunt for bonus locations under certain time constraints. There are no points for most distance ridden or for who gets to a checkpoint first. It is all about good map reading, route planning, keeping your "seat" on the seat, and managing your time and sleep stops. This rally is patterned after the Iron Butt Rally - which circumnavigates the United States in 11 days (check out the web link above).

The requirements to ride in this rally are the successful completion of an Iron Butt Association Saddlesore (1000 miles in 24 hours) or participation in one of the many other Endurance Motorcycle rallies held all over the country (see www.ironbutt.com). Also, a certain amount of rider's insurance is required – see the Northwest Passage web site below.

Spectators are welcomed at the various checkpoints also. However, please respect the rider's rights to privacy, as they will probably be looking for a place to catch a quick catnap before getting back on the road.

This will be a very challenging rally. Each leg is about 970 miles long but with the bonuses added in, the riders may very well cover a total of over 3000 miles for the three days. Thus, this is not for the inexperienced rider. Several top finishers from past Iron Butt Rallies have already entered this rally plus, other veterans from many other endurance rallies.

There are still a few openings for qualified riders but there will be a limit of 45 total riders.

Sponsors for this years ride will include Anderwerks Motorsports, Big Twin Cycle Center Motorsports, Everett Motorsports, Gerbing Electric Clothing , Widder Enterprises, Whitehorse Press, White Cloud Coffee Moxie Java Int'l.